But now a new reason has emerged why the royals might be a particularly interesting subject, with the revelation that they used to dine on human flesh.

Kate and Wills will hopefully not follow the cannibal traditions of their ancestors (PA)

According to a new book on medicinal cannibalism, written by University of Durham academic Dr Richard Sugg, well-off and well-educated Brits used to eat human flesh, blood and bones as medicine.

This practice apparently took place in other parts of Europe as well up until the end of the 18th century.

While referring to the barbarity of cannibals in the New World, royals hypocritically applied, drank or wore powdered Egyptian mummy, as well as human fat, flesh, bone and even brains.

Dr Sugg suggests one cure for nosebleeds used by the upper class was moss taken from the skulls of dead soldiers.

The academic, from the university's English Studies department, argues strongly that the Europeans were the real cannibals of the world.

'One thing we are rarely taught at school, yet is evidenced in literary and historic texts of the time, is this: James I refused corpse medicine; Charles II made his own corpse medicine; and Charles I was made into corpse medicine,' he said.

Charles II wasn't the only royal to enjoy a feast of human flesh either; Queen Mary and William III were said to be in on the act too.

Dr Sugg's book, Mummies, Cannibals and Vampires, will be published on June 29th and will be featured in an upcoming Channel 4 documentary with Tony Robinson.

Recently, a would-be cannibal in Kysak, Slovakia, was shot dead by police after his potential meal informed the authorities of his plans.

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